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The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) checkoff and membership programs represent more than 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois. The checkoff funds market development and utilization efforts while the membership program supports the government relations interests of Illinois soybean farmers at the local, state, and national level, through the Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG). ISA upholds the interests of Illinois soybean producers through promotion, advocacy, and education with the vision of becoming a market leader in sustainable soybean production and profitability.
To help fund research and promotion efforts, Illinois soybean farmers contribute a portion of their sale proceeds to the checkoff program. Currently, farmers invest 0.5 percent of the net market price for each bushel they sell. Half of these collected funds are retained and administered by the United Soybean Board (USB). The other half is distributed to Qualified State Soybean Boards (QSSBs), like ISB, to be managed by a board of directors.
The ISA Board of Directors consists of 24 volunteer farmers who govern the organization’s use of checkoff and non-checkoff funds. Eighteen District Directors, representing specific regional areas, and six At-Large Directors, representing the state as a whole, are elected on a state-wide basis.
Since the mid-1960s, ISA has served the needs of soybean farmers across Illinois. Today, we value our long history, knowing that we help improve profitability for all Illinois farmers. More information about the history of ISA is available here.
ISA works with three national soybean organizations to meet demand, develop new uses for soy products, expand export markets and develop national policy. All of our state-level efforts are coordinated and executed with these groups and their objectives in mind.
To learn more about ISA and its efforts, please read our press releases. We also encourage you to review these documents, videos, and audio files.
Illinois is a leader in soybean production with a huge economic impact. Illinois soybeans provide a global food supply, feed for animals, sustainable biodiesel and more.
As of 2021, Illinois is the top soybean producing state with an average yield of 64 bushels per acre, totaling approximately 672.6 million bushels.
All around the world! Illinois soybeans are exported to 82 countries and are used for a variety of products.
Some of the most common products produced with soybeans are animal feed, biodiesel, soy crayons and ink, vegetable oil, candles, soy sauce, soy flour and milk alternatives.
Made from soybean oil, biodiesel is a fuel alternative that reduces harmful greenhouse gases while also delivering high-quality performance you can trust all year long.
Soybean checkoff programs allow soybean farmers to invest in programs that enhance markets and the overall value of soybeans. Producer checkoff programs are a valuable tool in building new demand and educating on issues that threaten the future of farming.
USB and ASA are two different organizations with one focus: the success of U.S. soybean farmers. Each group serves this purpose in a unique way. USB administers soybean checkoff activities focusing on research, market development and expansion, while ASA works on state and national legislative and regulatory policy issues.
Providing farmers with innovative research on soybean production is one of the soy checkoff’s most important jobs. The checkoff funds a variety of trials, test plots and collaboration with university researchers to provide farmers with valuable information that helps them make informed crop-management decisions and improve their bottom lines. On a broader level, the soy checkoff helps to grow existing markets for soy and create new ones through promotion, advocacy, and education.